Tension device



Oct. 8, 1940. 5 BECKMAN 2,217,094

TENS ION DEVI CE Filed April 5, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct 1940- G. s BECKMAN TENSION DEVICE Filed April 5, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Get. 8, 1940 PATENT orrlca TEN SION DEVICE Gustaf S. Beckman, Cranston, R. 1., assignor to Universal Winding Company, Cranston, R. 1., a corporation of Massachusetts Application April 5, 1938, Serial No. 200,222

7 Claims.

This invention relates to tension devices for use on winding machines and other textile apparatus, and particularly to an improved shock-absorber for absorbing vibration or chattering of the tension-elements which apply resistance to the draft of a strand of yarn or the like feeding thereacross.

One object of the invention is to provide a vibration-absorber of the type indicated for controlling the action of the tension device to prevent undue variation or fluctuation in the amount of tension applied thereby.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the type indicated which may be applied to tensioning means of various constructions to absorb the shock or jar and check the vibration of the parts thereof due to any cause.

' Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the type indicated comprising resilient means interposed between the tension device and the means for applying pressure thereto to absorb vibration in both the tension-members and .the pressure-means.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the type indicated for applying a sensitive control to the tension-members whereof to permit them to respond to irregularities in the resistance to the draft on the strand at its source of supply and to permit the passage of knots, slubs, bunches and enlargements on the strand through the tension device without causing complete relief of the applied tension or undue fluctuation therein.

35 Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the type indicated which may be applied to various forms of tension devices now in use without alteration in the structure or arrangement thereof. 40 Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the type indicated which is simple in construction, economical to manufacture and durable in use throughout long periods of time.

Further objects of the improvements are set forth in the following specification which describes a preferred embodiment of the invention, by way of example, as illustrated by the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a conventional 30 type of winding machine showing its tension device and illustrating the present improved vibration-absorber as applied to use therewith;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the tension device illustrated in Fig. 1 shown with the weighted 55 means for applying pressure to the tension-members and the present improved vibration-absorber applied to use therewith;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the tension device proper shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view on line 4-4 5 of Fig. 2, showing the adjusting means for regulating the degree of resilience of the absorberdevice;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged part-sectional detailed view of the means for attaching the vibrationabsorber to the arm of one of the tension-members; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the complete vibration-absorber shown detached from the tension device.

In delivering yarn, thread and like strand materials to winding machines and other textile apparatus it is usual to apply tension to the strand as it feeds from its source of supply. A common form of tension device for this purpose comprises a pair of members, constructed in the form of plates, grids, combs or the like, arranged in opposed relationship to adapt the strand to feed therebetween and having means for exerting pressure on one or both of the tension-members to cause them to act against the strand to apply resistance to its draft. In these and other forms of tension devices where weights are employed to apply pressure to the tension-members, any shock or jar in the machine is liable to set up vibration in the weights which is communicated to the tension-members to prevent them from applying uniform tension on the strand. Likewise, when knots, slubs, bunches or other enlargements on the strand pass through the tension device they tend to cause vibration and chattering of the tension-members which is communicated to the weights and augmented by the effect of momentum so that the pressure applied thereby is intermittently increased and relieved causing unevenness in the tension on the strand.

Various means have been proposd for checking or absorbing the vibration of the tension-members to overcome the conditions stated above, but none of these has been entirely successful in preventing uneven tension on the strand. The present inventir .1 provides a simple, yet eflicient, means for absorbing the vibration of the tensionmembers, While also absorbing the shock and jar of the weights which apply pressure to the tension-members, whereby to materially reduce variations in the applied tension. The present vibration-absorber consists of a resilient element, preferably a two-armed spring, one arm of which is connected to the movable tension-member and its other arm to the weighted means which applies the pressure to said tension-member.

Referring to the present drawings, Fig. 1 illustrates a well-known type of yarn-winding machine comprising a box-like frame 2 mounting journals for a winding-spindle 3 and cam-shaft 4 arranged below and parallel to the spindle. The winding-spindle 3 is adapted to support a paper or fiber cop-tube T on which the package is wound by traversing the yarn y longitudinally thereof. The yarn is traversed by a reciprocating thread-guide 5 carried by a traverse-bar Ii mounted to slide in a guideway I on a swinging traverse-frame I0. The traverse-frame I0 is of usual bifurcated construction having legs II pivoted on the cam-shaft 4 to adapt the threadguide 5 to move outwardly away from the winding-spindle 3 as the cop or package is built up thereon.

The thread-guide 5 may be reciprocated by any suitable means such as a helical cam, not herein shown, mounted on and rotated by the cam-shaft 4. The traverse-frame I0 is provided with a depending arm I2 terminating in a counterweight I3 which tends to resist the swinging movement of the frame as the thread-guide 5 is forced outwardly away from the winding-spindle 3. A usual form of dog I4 having its tapered end engaging in a correspondingly-formed groove n a quadrant I5, attached to the frame 2 at I6, resists movement of the traverse-frame I0 and thread-guide 5 toward the winding-:spindle 3 after the guide has been forced out by the growing ackage.

As shown in the present drawings, a bracket I1 is fastened to the side of the frame 2 by screws I8 and carries at its end a mounting for the tension device. The mounting comprises an upright I9 having laterally-projecting arms 20 and 2| for supporting a vertical rod 22 inserted through holes therein. The lower end of the rod 22 is offset in an elbow 23 engaging in a slot on the under side of the arm 2| of the tension-bracket, while the upper end of the rod is threaded to receive a nut 24 to clamp the rod in place. The lower shoulder of the rod 22 is continued downwardly and bent into a pigtail 25 which forms a guide for the strand as it leads upwardly to the tension device.

As herein shown, a usual form of slub-detector or yarn-cleaner 26 is fastened to the top of the arm 20 of the tension-bracket II, being provided with opposed elements 21 and 28 forming a split or opening through which the yarn draws to cause it to be scraped clean of slubs, motes and other foreign matter adhering thereto. From the slub-catcher 25 the yarn 2,! leads upwardly across a wire-bail 30 on the traverse-frame I0 and draws through a slot in the thread-guide 5 to direct it onto the package being wound on the spindle 3. As shown in Fig. 1, a pendant drop-wire 3|, pivoted to the quadrant I5 at 32, has an arm 33 which bears against the strand 1 during the winding, a triangular portion of the drop-wire being thus maintained in position free of the periphery of a rotating disk or wheel 34 on the end of the cam-shaft 4. When the yarn breaks or its supply is exhausted it releases the drop-wire 3| which is weighted to adapt its triangular end to engage the projections on the periphery of the wheel 34. Such engagement causes the drop-wire 3| to be forced upwardly to lift the quadrant I5. The quadrant I5 is formed with a detent-portion normally engaged with a detent at the end of a curved lever 35 for actuating the clutch-device,

not herein shown, which controls the operation of the machine. When the detents are released the lever 35 is operated by a spring, not shown, to disengage the clutch to arrest the operation of the machine.

The above-mentioned elements of the winding machine are well known and form no part of the present invention, their arrangement being herein described to make clear the method of operation of the machine as a whole. As before indicated, the subject of the present invention is a vibrationabsorber which may be adapted to various types of tension devices for the purposes specified. As shown in the present drawings and designated generally by the reference numeral 38, the absorber is applied to use with a tension device comprising hinged elements of grid-like form having bars or fingers disposed in opposite alternate relationship to adapt them to bear against the strand 1 as it feeds therebetween. Referring more particularly to Figs. 2 and 3, the present tension device comprises a fixed tension-member 39 and a movable tension-member 40 pivoted on the vertical rod 22, previously described. Each of the tension-members 39 and 40 may be constructed from sh et-metal stamped out to provide a plurality of tines or fingers 4| and 42 extending laterally thereof. The fixed tension-member 39 has folded portions or ears 43 bent at rightangles to its main plane and formed with apertures for receiving the supporting rod 22. At its center the member 39 is formed with a hole through which is inserted a screw 45 threaded into a lug 46 projecting forwardly from the upright I9 of the tension-bracket H. v

The movable tension-member 40 is of substantially the same form as the fixed tension-member 39, having folded ears 4'! at its top and bottom' with apertures therein for pivoting it on the rod 22. The fingers or bars 4| and 42 extend forwardly in horizontal direction from the pivoting rod 22 and are arranged in staggered relationship so that they alternate along the course of the strand as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. Preferably, the forward faces of the tension-fingers are curved or rounded to provide smooth surfaces for bearing against the strand. It will be noted by reference to Fig. 3 of the drawings that the tension-fingers of each member are offset forwardly from the main plane of the members by angularly-bent portions indicated at 48 and 49. At their forward ends the tension-members have similarly inclined bent portions 50 and 5| which normally form a trough or crease through which the strand may be drawn to cause it to open the tensions to admit the strand therebetween. The

inclined portion 5| of the movable tension-member 40 is continued in a finger 52 which is bent back to overlie the top of the opposite tensionmember 39 to form a guard 53 which acts to prevent the yarn from being released from the tension device after it has once been threaded into place between the tension-members. A similar guard 54 is also provided at the bottom of the tension-member 40 as shown in Big. 2. The tension-member 40 has a rearwardly-extending finger 55 which normally clears the end of a plungerpin 56 slidable in a bearing 51 at the upper end of the upright I9. The plunger-pin 56 is operated by a spring, not herein shown, to act against the finger 55 to swing the tension-member 40 back into operative position after it has been opened to extreme position, this device being employed as a precautionary means to insure that the two tension-members will be returned to cooperative relationship to act against the yarn.

In winding machines of the present type it is the preferred practice to apply a degree of tension to the yarn varying with its linear speed. In winding yarn or other strand materials on a positively rotated winding-spindle the speed of draft of the yarn increases with the increase in diameter of the package being wound, that is, the yarn has a progressively increasing linear speed from start to finish of the package. It is therefore customary to apply a maximum amount of tension to the yarn at the start of the winding when its linear speed is relatively slow and to gradually diminish or lessen the tension with the increase in the speed of the yarn. For this purpose, machines of the present type employ what is termed a differential tension device controlled by the changing size of the package being wound. As the swinging movement of the traverse-frame i8 is effected by the growth in the package this element of the machine is employed as the actuating means for operating the differential tension device to vary the tension on the yarn. To this end, the lower arm l2 of the frame i8 is connected to a series of weighted levers which not only control the tension on the yarn, but also the degree of pressure of the thread-guide as it bears against the package. The differential pressure and tension device is herein shown as comprising a main pressure-lever 68 pivoted on a stud 6| screwed into a boss on the front of the tension-bracket l1, and a tension-lever 83 pivoted at 84 on the pressure-lever. The pressure-lever 88 carries a weight 85 slidable therealong to permit it to be adjusted toward or away from the pivot of said lever; and likewise, the tension-lever 83 carries a smaller weight 88 which is adjustable longitudinally thereof toward or away from its pivot. The two weights 65 and 88 preferably have detent-means 61 and 88, formed with fingers 89 and (8, respectively, which are adapted to engage in spaced notches H and 12 on the two levers 88 and 83 to retain the weights in adjusted position.

The pressure-lever 88 is connected to the lower arm of the traverse-frame III by means of a wire rod or link 13. The forward end of the rod 13 is bent at right-angles and inserted through a hole in the lever 88 located forwardly of its pivot; the bent portion of the rod also serving as a pivot for the tension-lever 83. The opposite end of the rod 13 is hooked into one of a series of notches 14 in a member 15 fastened to the arm l2 of the traverse-frame l8, being held in the appropriate notch by a removable wire-pin 18. By withdrawing the pin 18 the rod 13 may be shifted from one notch to another to vary the leverage of the traverse-frame on the rod to regulate the amount of movement imparted to the pressure-lever 88. Usually, the tension-lever 83 is directly connected to the movable tensionmember 48 by means of a rod or link I1, one end of the rod being hooked through a hole in a lug 18 on the tension-lever and its opposite hooked end 19 connected to an arm 88 forming an extension of the upper folded ear 41 of the movable tension-member 48. Instead of this direct connection, the present invention provides for interposing the vibration-absorber 38 between the end of the connecting rod 11 and the arm 88 of the movable tension-member 48.

The vibration-absorber 38 may be constructed of suitable spring-wire bent into a loop at 8i to form two parallel legs or arms 82 and 83 spaced at a slight distance apart and of substantially the same length. At its upper end the arm 83 is bent at right-angles and then laterally to form an elongated loop 84, while the arm 82 has its upper end curled around to form a circular loop 88. The tension of the absorber-spring 38 may be regulated by an adjusting means in the form' of a clamp 88 connecting the opposite legs 82 and 83 and slidable longitudinally thereof to vary the extent of their yieldable portions. As shown in the enlarged detailed view, Fig. 4, the adjusting device 88 comprises a pair of rectangularlyshaped plates 81 and 88 having their opposite ends slightly bent or curved inwardly to adapt them to overlie the opposite sides of the two legs 82 and 83 in binding engagement thereagainst. A screw 89 passing through central holes in the plates 8'! and 88 is threaded to receive a nut 98 to clamp the plates 81 and 88 firmly against the arms 82 and 83 of the spring. By loosening the nut 98 the plates 81 and 88 may be released to allow the clamp to be slid freely along the arms 82 and 83 of the spring to effect the desired adjustment, whereafter the nut is tightened to secure the parts of the adjusting device in fixed position on the spring.

The vibration-absorber 38 is applied to the tension device by attaching its leg 83 to the arm 88 of the movable tension-member 48 by means of the loop 84. As shown in the detailed view,

Fig. 5, the loop 84 is placed against the top of the arm 88 with a suitable washer 9! in overlying relation thereto and a screw 92 inserted through the washer, the loop and the hole in the arm 88. A nut 93 on the end of the screw 82 acts to clamp the parts together. By loosening the nut 93 the vibration-absorber 38 may be adjusted on the arm 88 toward or away from the pivotal axis of the movable member 48 to locate the loop 85 on the opposite leg 82 of the spring in proper relation to the tension-lever 83. The rod 11 which links the tension-lever 83 with the movable tension-member 48 is connected to the arm 82 of the spring 38 by hooking its end 19 through the loop 85, this being usually effected before the vibration-absorber is adjusted in place on the arm 88 of the tension-member 48. With the vibration-absorber attached to the movable tension-member 48 in the manner as above explained and its leg 82 connected by the rod ll to the tension-lever83, the device is arranged to operate in the manner as next explained.

The strand of yarn 1 leading from a suitable source of supply is threaded into the pigtail 25, entered between the fingers 4i and 42 of the tension-members 39 and 48, thence lead through the opening in the slub-detector 28 and drawn up across the bail 38 on the traverse-frame l8. Thence it is threaded through the slot in the guide 5 and its end attached to the cop-tube T on the spindle 3 with the guide placed in contact with the periphery of said tube. The machine is started to operate by rocking the lever by means of its handle to engage its detent with the detent on the quadrant l5, whereby to actuate the clutch-means to apply power to drive the machine. The spindle 3 is driven in clockwise direction to wind the strand onto the tube T as the guide 5 is reciprocated longitudinally thereof by means not herein shown but of usual construction.

At the start of the vinding the parts of the machine are in the relationship shown in Fig. 1 with the pressure-lever 88 and tension-lever 83 extending in substantially horizontal direction.

As the package builds up on the cop-tube T the thread-guide 5 is forced radially outward from the axis of the spindle 3 with the traverse-frame in swinging to the right to accommodate this movement of the guide. As the frame l0 pivots about the cam-shaft I in the direction stated its lower arm I! swings in the opposite direction and, through its connection with the link 13, acts to swing the pressure-lever 80 upwardly in the manner as indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawings. As the pressure-lever 68 swings upwardly in counterclockwise direction the link ll connecting the tension-lever 63 with the movable tension-member 40, through the intermediary of the spring 38, causes the tension-lever 83 to be rocked upwardly about its pivot 64 in clockwise direction. As the pressure-lever 60 is thus rocked upwardly during the winding of the package its effective leverage is reduced or, in other words, the force of the weight 65 on the lever is gradually reduced to relieve the pressure of the thread-guide 5 against the surface of the package being wound. Likewise, the raising of the tension-lever 63 reduces its effective force on the link 11 to diminish thepressure of the latter tending to resist the passage of the strand 3 through the tension device.

At the start of the winding when the maximum degree of force is applied to the movable tensionmember 40 the strand y passing across the opposed fingers ll and 42 will be caused to follow a tortuous path to apply the greatest amount of tension thereto. As the pressure on the tensionmember 40 is relieved, however, the strand will have a tendency to straighten out by forcing the bars of the tension-members apart, thereby reducing the amount of tension applied to the strand. This reduction in the applied tension is effected continuously from start to finish of the winding operation in accordance with the increase in linear speed of the yarn as the package increases in diameter. Consequently, since the applied pressure is reduced, the ultimate tension on the yarn will remain substantially constant throughout the winding of each package.

Most types of yarn and thread have irregularities on the surfaces such as slubs, bunches, knots and the like and as these enlargements pass through the tension device they tend to separate the tension-members. Likewise, in unwinding the yarn from its supply the resistance to its delivery is usually variable and any undue resistance has a tendency to straighten the strand which also has the same effect to separate the tension-members to provide a freer passage of the yarn therebetween. 'I'hese influences are practically always present and with tension devices of the present type the rapid passage of the yarn therethrough normally sets up a continuous vibration in the tension-members. Where the tension device is under the control of a weight the vibration of the tension-member or members connected therewith is communicated to the weight and augmented by the effect of inertia. Therefore, in previously used tension devices of the present type it has been practically impossible to maintain a steady pressure of the tensionmembers'on the yarn without variations in the applied tension due to vibration and chattering of the tension-elements. In accordance with the present invention the vibration-absorber is arranged to absorb the vibration of the movable tension-member. That is, it has the effect to check excessive vibration of the tension-member to thus insure a more uniform tension applied to the yarn. This shock-absorbing action is twofold, as any vibration set up in the weighted tension-lever which applies pressure to the tensionmember is also checked and prevented from becoming extreme. Vibrations in the machine or the floor on which it is supported may cause vibration and jumping of the tension-lever to a certain extent, but this abnormal movement of the lever is compensated by the yielding action of the arm 82 of the vibration-absorber 38 so that it is not communicated to the tension-member 48 to cause vibrations therein. Thus, the present device effectively prevents abnormal vibration or chattering of the tension-members whereof to insure a more constant and uniform tension applied to the yarn without extreme variations therein.

The degree of resiliency of the vibration-absorber is regulated by adjusting the clamp 88 longitudinally of the arms 82 and 83 of the spring 38. When the weight applied to press the movable tension-member toward the fixed tensionmember is relatively light the adjusting device or clamp 86 is moved down on the arms 82 and 83 to provide for a maximum spring action; whereas, when the weight is heavier the clamp is slid upwardly on the arms to provide greater resistance to the spring action. In this way the action of the vibration-dampener may be regulated in accordance with different conditions to give it maximum efliciency.

It will be observed from the foregoing that the present invention provides an extremely simple yet ingenious device for checking vibration of the tension-members, and also for absorbing the vibration of the weighted means connected thereto due to shock and jar thereon, whereof to sensitively control the tension device to adapt it to apply a uniform tension to the yarn drawing therethrough.

While the present improved vibration-absorber is herein shown in a preferred form of construc-- tion and applied to use on a particular type of winding machine, it is to be understood that modifications and changes may be made in the structure and arrangement of the device and its method of application to use without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, without limiting myself in this respect, I claim:

1. In a device of the type indicated, the combination of a fixed tension-member having laterally-extending fingers, a movable tensionmember having fingers opposed in alternate relation to the fingers of the fixed member, a pivoted lever, a weight on said lever, a link for conmeeting said weighted lever to the movable tension-member, and a resilient element connected at one end to the link with its opposite end connected to the tension-member to adapt it to absorb vibration of the parts.

2. A vibration-absorber for tension devices and the like having means for applying pressure, said vibration-absorber comprising a substantially U- shaped spring having means at the end of one of its arms for connecting it to the tension device and means at the end of its opposite arm for connecting it to the pressure-means for the tension device, and means adjustable on the spring for varying the resiliency of its arms.

3. A vibration-absorber for tension devices and the like having means for applying pressure, said vibration-absorber comprising a spring of substantially hairpin-shape having one arm adapted for connection to a tension device and its opposite arm provided with means for connection with the pressure-means for the tension device, and an adjusting element slidable longitudinally of the arms of the spring and adapted to be secured in fixed position thereon to vary the resiliency of said arms.

4. A vibration-absorber tor a tensioning device having means for applying pressure, said vibration-absorber comprising a spring-element of substantially hairpin-shape having its opposite arms adapted for connection respectively to the tensioning device and the pressure-means therefor, an adjusting device comprising opposite clamping plates embracing the arms of the spring and slidable longitudinally thereof, and a bolt for clamping the plates in diflerent positions on the arms of the spring to regulate the resiliency of said arms.

5. In a device of the type indicated, the conibination of a rotary winding spindle, means for traversing yarn on the spindle to form a package, said spindle and traversing means being adapted to separate during the winding of a package, a tension device for applying tension to the yarn feeding to the package, a weighted lever, means operated by the separation of the spindle and traversing means to rock said lever, a link connecting the lever to the tension device to apply pressure thereto, and a vibration-absorber comprising a U-shaped spring interposed between the lever and the tension device.

6. In a device of the type indicated, the combination of a tension-member adapted to bear against a strand of yarn or thread to apply tension thereto, a bell-crank lever mounted on a horizontal pivot and a weight associated with one arm of said lever for applying pressure to said tension-member to urge it against the strand, and a vibration-absorber comprising a substantially U-shaped spring, one arm of said spring being connected to said tension-member and the other arm of said spring being connected to the second arm of said lever.

'7. In a device of the type indicated, the combination of a fixed tension-member, a movable tension-member arranged opposite said fixed tension-member, a weighted lever for applying pressure to said movable tension-member to urge it toward said fixed tension-member, a vibrationabsorber comprising a substantially U-shaped spring having one of its arms connected to said weighted lever and its opposite arm connected to said movable tension-member, and means rigidly interconnecting the respective arms of said U-shaped spring.

GUSTAF S. BECKMAN. 

